Indonesian press enjoys freedom: PWI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The local media industry enjoys freedom although
\nnot to the same degree as that found in the West, the leaders of
\nthe Association of Indonesian Journalists (PWI) said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The print and electronic media are free to report anything
\nprovided as long as they are based on facts and still in
\ncompliance with the journalistic ethics code,\" PWI Chairman
\nSofjan Lubis said.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a media conference about an upcoming PWI
\nseminar to reflect the role of the Indonesian media in 50 years
\nof independence, Sofjan said press freedom should be applied in
\nthe context of Indonesia's social, political and cultural
\nsetting. \"The press is still free, but the freedom is not similar
\nto that applied in other countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sofjan underlined that Indonesia has been pursuing a press
\nthat is free and responsible and that the freedom that the press
\nhas should be used in accordance with the Pancasila state
\nideology.<\/p>\n
\"Press freedom in Indonesia is guaranteed by the
\nconstitution,\" he said. \"But there are limitations (on how far
\nthe press can go). Publishers and broadcasters must avoid running
\nlibelous matter, obscenities and other matters that may offend
\ntheir readers and viewers.\"<\/p>\n
PWI Secretary General Parni Hadi, who accompanied Sofjan in
\nthe meeting, described that the press in Indonesia is already
\n\"very free\".<\/p>\n
\"If the press is not free, then cannot criticize the
\ngovernment,\" he said, adding that some newspaper publications
\nhave even thrived on conflicts.<\/p>\n
Sofjan said the Indonesian press also has a responsibility in
\npreserving national unity and cohesion and must therefore refrain
\nfrom publishing stories that could divide the nation, such as
\nthose that exploit racial, ethnical and religious differences.<\/p>\n
The one-day discussion organized by PWI on Wednesday will
\nfeature senior journalists as speakers, including Rosihan Anwar,
\nJacob Oetama of Kompas daily newspaper, Any Idrus of the Medan-
\nbased Waspada daily, Sabam Siagian of The Jakarta Post and Zaim
\nUhrowi of the Republika daily.<\/p>\n
A press photo exhibition will be held at the same time at the
\nvenue at Hotel Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Sofjan also denied the suggestions that PWI has been a tool of
\nthe government, pointing out that the association in the past
\nsought to reverse the government's rulings when three news
\nmagazines were closed last year and a tabloid met a similar fate
\na few years ago.<\/p>\n
\"PWI has done a lot of things,\" Sofjan said, pointing out that
\nwhen the effort failed, the association helped the displaced
\njournalists secure new press publishing licenses. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-press-enjoys-freedom-pwi-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}